An Analytical Evaluation of Distortion-induced Fatigue in Steel Bridges PDF Download

Author: Heidi L. Hassel
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781124467016
Category : Iron and steel bridges
Languages : en
Pages : 79

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Author: Mark Douglas Bowman
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISBN: 030925826X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 721: Fatigue Evaluation of Steel Bridges provides proposed revisions to Section 7--Fatigue Evaluation of Steel Bridges of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Manual for Bridge Evaluation with detailed examples of the application of the proposed revisions."--Publisher's description.

Author: Matthew Craig Reichenbach
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Cross-frames are important structural components that serve many functions throughout the service life of steel I-girder bridge systems. They primarily act as stability braces to enhance the lateral-torsional buckling resistance of the girders during erection and deck construction, but also distribute live loads in the final composite condition. Under repetitive load cycles caused by heavy truck passages, cross-frames and their connections are susceptible to load-induced fatigue cracking if not properly designed. Cross-frames have historically been detailed and fabricated based on general rules-of-thumb and experience. In recent years, however, developments in bridge design specifications have necessitated the modernization of cross-frame design and analysis practices. Cross-frames are now designed and detailed based on rational analysis for all stages of construction and service life, which has further emphasized the importance of accurate and reliable analysis techniques and design criteria. Although considerable research over the past several decades has improved cross-frame design and analysis, the design industry has generally lacked quantitively based guidance on load-induced behavior of cross-frames in composite, in-service bridges. As such, this dissertation explores two major concepts: (i) the influence of skewed and curved superstructure geometry on the fatigue response of cross-frames and (ii) the limitations of simplified analysis techniques commonly utilized in commercial software programs with respect to estimating cross-frame force effects. Field experiments were performed on three steel I-girder bridges in the greater Houston area, and the stress ranges induced in key cross-frame members from truck traffic were monitored for one month each. Upon validating a finite-element approach with the measured data, an extensive analytical parametric study was conducted to expand the breadth and depth of knowledge gained from the limited field studies. In general, the load-induced fatigue behavior of conventional X- and K-type cross-frames were examined for a variety of bridge geometries commonly found in the United States. These analyses were performed with different levels of computational refinement, ranging from sophisticated three-dimensional approaches to simplified two-dimensional approaches. Based on the data collected and processed from the experimental and analytical studies, recommendations are proposed to improve the design and analysis of cross-frames in composite bridge structures. Because cross-frames represent a costly component of fabrication and erection, these recommendations ultimately lead to improved efficiency and economy of new steel bridge construction

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781109385977
Category : Bridges
Languages : en
Pages :

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In 2006, a consulting firm was hired to perform an in-depth interior box inspection on Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Bridge Number 1-501, also known as the Newport Viaduct. Upon inspection, 655 fatigue cracks were observed, occurring at the weld metal between the transverse cross frame connection plate and girder webs. At the cracked locations, a 2.5 in. web gap exists between the connection plate termination and the girder flanges. This is a known fatigue prone detail that has been widely documented to be susceptible to out-of-plane deformation and distortion-induced fatigue. Although the mode of cracking is relatively familiar, there are remaining questions that should be answered to ensure the proper functioning of the structure. Specifically, is the observed fatigue cracking consistent with expected behavior? Secondly, should additional cracks be expected to initiate in locations that currently do not have observable cracks? These questions were approached by focusing on a portion of the overall structure, Spans 9-11 in the southbound direction. Field testing was performed to capture the in-situ response of the structure to known live loads via the implementation of 23 strategically placed strain transducers. The field testing was used to calibrate and validate a finite element model. The finite element mesh was constructed using the FEMAP preprocessor and solved using ABAQUS. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the model to investigate the influence of the transverse truck position within the travel lane, the concrete deck stiffness, and the concrete parapets. The results of each analysis showed that the finite element model was insensitive to variations in transverse truck position, concrete stiffness, and the exclusion of the parapets. The finite element model was ultimately utilized to perform a fatigue evaluation. The fatigue evaluation showed that fatigue cracking is within reason given the stress range and the number of accumulated stress cycles from lifetime truck traffic on the structure. The fatigue evaluation and anticipation of future cracking establishes the need for developing crack retrofit and mitigation strategies for the web gap details within the structure. These strategies will extend the longevity of the bridge and enable it to remain in service.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781109386073
Category : Bridges
Languages : en
Pages :

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Distortion induced fatigue is a common problem for aging steel bridges. The distortion creates secondary bending stresses at web gap locations that are not accounted for in design, thereby initiating fatigue cracks. A large number of such distortion-induced fatigue cracks have recently been found on Delaware Bridge 1-501 in Newport, Delaware. This multi box steel tub girder bridge has cracking that has initiated in the weld which connects the web to the internal bracing via connection plates. To investigate this problem, global finite element models of two of the bridge's spans were created. In order to calibrate the models for use in analysis, a diagnostic load test was performed using strain transducers to measure strains associated with bending of the girders. Once the models were found to reasonably represent the actual response of the structure, the model was then refined for local modeling of the web gap region. As expected, stresses within the gap were found to be large. Reduction of the stresses within these gap locations is required to increase the remaining life of the bridge. Several retrofit methods were designed to accomplish this stress reduction, based on effective retrofits used to correct similar problems in the past. These retrofit methods include drilling holes at the crack tips, positively attaching the connection plates to flanges, increasing the length of the web gaps, and removing the diagonal elements in the diaphragms. The retrofits were modeled and analyzed under fatigue loading and the resulting stresses were compared to the original structure. Of these methods, the positive attachment was found to be most effective in reducing the web gap stresses; however, all of the approaches provided significant reductions in the stress range. Recommendations for applying this type of retrofit detail along with the drilling of holes at the end of crack tips are provided.

Author: Yared Shifferaw Bayleyegn
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Crack formation due to out-of-plane distortion in the web-gap region has been a common occurrence in multi-girder steel bridges. These cracks result from the fatigue stresses that are induced in the web-gap due to cyclic diaphragm forces resulting from differential deflections between girders. The study presented herein investigated the different repair methods that can be used to control formation of these cracks. The study involved field testing and analytical modeling of a skewed multi-girder steel bridge designated as Design No. 1283, which is built on county road D-180 that crosses over I-380 in the state of Iowa. Different repair methods were suggested to reduce the induced stresses and strains in the web-gap under truck loads. These methods included loosening of the bolts connecting the cross-bracing to the stiffener, connecting the stiffener to the girder top flange or adding another stiffener on the opposite side of the girder web. The results indicated that the first two of these repair alternatives were effective in reducing induced stresses and strains in the web-gap region. The impact of web-gap height on the distortion induced in the web-gap was also studied. Furthermore, influence surfaces for different responses such as, web-gap strains, stresses, out-of-plane displacements at critical locations, and forces in the adjacent diaphragm were developed. Moreover, relationships between the relative out-of-plane displacements and vertical stresses induced within the web-gap region were also provided. These developed relationships and surfaces serve as a quick estimate of induced stresses at critical locations in other web-gap regions of the bridge.

Author: Dmitri Jajich
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Diaphragms (Structural engineering)
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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This report summarizes the findings of a project with the following goals: to implement a field instrumentation and monitoring program for a typical multi-girder steel bridge on skew supports that may be susceptible to web-gap distortion; to assess the frequency and magnitude of the distortional fatigue stresses at the web-stiffener connections; and to evaluate the impact of these stresses on fatigue life. Measurements from 12 independent strain gauges were continuously monitored and recorded for more than three months on Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) bridge #27734. Truck loading tests also were conducted. Predicted web-gap fatigue life based on the long-term monitoring data from Mn/DOT bridge #27734 ranges from 45 to 75 years. Comparison of web-gap stresses with primary design stresses reveals that web-gap distortional stresses are comparatively high. The report also highlights a detailed finite element study to better understand the web-gap stress mechanism and to compare experimental results with theoretical predictions. Study results have important implications for investigators of distortion-induced web-gap fatigue. They indicate that the actual stress at the so-called hotspot may be as much as twice the stress measured at the strain gauge. The report includes a method for estimating girder deflections and web-gap stress.

Author: John W. Fisher
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISBN: 9780309048590
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bridges
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Distortion-induced fatigue cracking has occurred in many types of steel bridge structures, especially the welded structures where high local stresses exist. However, out-of-plane distortion-induced stresses have not been fully considered in the AASHTO design specifications. This research studies the behavior around web-gap of I-beam in steel bridges under cyclic loading and applies the linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts for prediction of fatigue cracking behavior. Besides, effects of various parameters on the distortion-induced fatigue cracking behavior are considered experimentally and numerically. The results show that finite element modeling with SED criterion is applicable for the crack path prediction. In addition, mode I and mode III affected the fatigue crack direction and fatigue crack growth rate.

Author: Prem P. Rimal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bridges
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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